Latest news with #J-pop
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada Launches Global Venture Nebula17
Naoki Osada, former CEO of Japanese entertainment giant Avex's U.S. division, has launched a new global creative venture, Nebula17. The company, announced Tuesday, will serve as a 'creative ecosystem that integrates label, publishing, management, international strategy and venture capital under one roof,' according to a release. Nebula17 will both develop U.S. talent but also serve as a springboard for Japanese artists looking to break into the U.S. and global markets. More from The Hollywood Reporter Jane's Addiction Members File $10 Million Lawsuit Against Perry Farrell Over 2024 Stage Altercation Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac Slide (Tackle) Into Eva Longoria's 'Necaxa' Trailer Filming Underway on Season 2 of Netflix's 'Geek Girl,' Layton Williams Joins Cast Japanese rapper Awich has begun working with the Nebula17, while writer-producer Marcus Munroe is working with the venture on the publishing side. The company also participated in an early stage funding round for the platform Indify, which aims to connect independent artists with labels. 'There couldn't be a more perfect time to bring this vision to life. The world is finally ready to hear these voices, and Nebula17 is here to amplify them with [the] right A&R strategies, global management expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit,' Osada said in statement. Osada worked at Avex, one of Japan's largest music labels, for over two decades before eventually leading its U.S. division, which expanded the company into the market. 'Our goal is to build a new bridge between Japanese culture and the global mainstream – one artist at a time [and] powered by top U.S. creatives and business leaders,' he added. Osada's venture is backed by a group of strategic investors, which was lead by Japanese entertainment company Akatsuki Inc. through their director, EVP, CFO and CSO Kazuhiko Ishikura. Additional key backers include J-pop star turned CEO Sky-Hi's management company BMSG, Asobisystem and Awich's management And Music. Angel investors include entrepreneur Paul Bragiel, the co-founders of crypto-focused VC Decima Fund and c-suite executives from gaming and Web3 company Gumi. Nebula17 plans to open a studio home in West Hollywood to act as a hub for songwriting and artist development. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Party in the U.S.A.' to 'Born in the U.S.A.': 20 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Hype Malaysia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku Coming To KL For MIKU EXPO This November
We've had a wave of announcements about K-pop idols coming to Malaysia for concerts and events, but what about Japanese artists? Fret not, as a lineup of J-pop acts is headed our way very soon, starting with the Japan Expo 2025 taking place this week! It looks like another hugely popular Japanese artist will be making her way to our shores later this year — and it's none other than the one and only, the iconic Hatsune Miku (初音ミク)! Here's what you need to know: On Tuesday (15th July), iMe Malaysia announced that the MIKU EXPO Asia 2025 will be held in Kuala Lumpur this November. For those unfamiliar with the event or with Hatsune Miku herself, this anime-style character is actually a computer-generated musical artist and one of Japan's most iconic Vocaloids. Since her debut in 2007, she has taken the world by storm, even selling out concerts despite not being a real person. She was also one of the artists lineup for the 2024 Coachella. Human or not, the love fans have for her is very real, and that's how MIKU EXPO was born. Organised by Crypton Future Media, it is a global concert tour that also features a range of sub-events, including exhibitions, workshops and club nights. It offers fans from all backgrounds the chance to come together and celebrate the vibrant, creative culture surrounding Hatsune Miku. While not much info has been announced, here are the confirmed details about the upcoming event so far: HATSUNE MIKU EXPO 2025 in Kuala Lumpur Date: 22nd November 2025 (Saturday) 22nd November 2025 (Saturday) Venue: Idea Live KL Idea Live KL Organiser: iMe Malaysia iMe Malaysia Ticketing: TBA Details on ticketing and the seating plan will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned for more updates or follow iMe Malaysia on all their social media platforms for more information. Are you ready to catch the legendary Hatsune Miku live onstage? While we wait for those details, check out the announcement video of the MIKU EXPO below:
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
What is the background music heard at some Japan polling sites?
The election for Japan's upper house will be held on July 20, and some early voters have already cast their ballots. While polling stations give the image of a quiet space where voting is conducted solemnly, classical and other music can sometimes be heard in the background. The Mainichi Shimbun briefly answers some questions readers may have about the background music played at these venues. Question: Is background music played at all polling sites during elections in Japan? Answer: Not at all sites, but some polling stations apparently play background music. During the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in June, for instance, social media users posted on X (formerly Twitter) about hearing background music at polling locations. Checking with election administration committees, we found that certain polling sites also played music during House of Councillors elections. Q: What kind of music is played? A: Usually, classical or instrumental music without vocals is chosen. Examples include "The Blue Danube" and "Swan Lake." Q: Why is classical music frequently used? A: Classical music is in the public domain because its copyright protection period has expired, so organizers can use it freely. Additionally, classical music helps create a calm, relaxed atmosphere. Q: Is J-Pop also played? A: Some election administration committee collections include CDs featuring "easy listening" instrumental arrangements of J-pop songs. According to the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC), playing music in polling stations is allowed without special permission as long as the venue is noncommercial and admission is free. Such instrumental arrangements of popular Japanese songs might occasionally be used at polling stations. Q: Are there polling sites without background music? A: Most polling stations do not play background music. Music is usually played only in locations requiring atmosphere control, such as gyms where external noises could distract voters, or when specifically requested to help voters relax. Q: Can any kind of song be used? A: According to the administration division of the election department at Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, there are no specific guidelines or official announcements regarding background music at polling stations. However, music clearly associated with political parties or candidates must be avoided.
Hype Malaysia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
From Ice Trays To Middle Fingers: 9 Of The Most Unserious K-pop Merchandise
Buying merchandise of your favourite K-pop group is part of the fan culture because, for many, it's how they show their love for these idols. While most K-pop merchandise is either cute (see: NCT Wish's plushies mascot keychains) or extra (see: NMIXX's seashell MP3 player), some idols decided to go the unhinged route with their merchandise. Of course, you can find some weird bootleg K-pop merchandise, but these items that we'll list are merchandise released by the actual companies, and some are even designed by the idols themselves. If you're looking for something unique ,K-pop stuff, check out these unserious – and unhinged – products: BIGBANG Daesung 'Ice, Nose, Lips' Ice Trays Being one of the funniest idols in the K-pop industry means you have to have one of the funniest merchandise. Daesung's 'Ice, Nose, Lips' ice tray is a witty pun on his groupmate Taeyang's hit song, but it's also an ice tray that he released as part of his 2014 solo tour in Japan. The best part? The ice tray is a mould of his actual nose and lips. BIGBANG Eye & Face Mask Speaking of BIGBANG, the group also has their fair share of interesting merchandise, having been in the K-pop industry for nearly two decades. However, the most unserious BIGBANG merchandise has to be their eye and face masks, featuring the eyes and lips of each member. The eye masks are also double-sided so you can choose to either open or close the 'eyes'. EPIK HIGH Park Kyu Bong Lightsticks EPIK HIGH may not be idols, but that didn't stop them from creating some of the most talked-about merchandise in the K-music industry. For their official lightstick, the trio went the 'undoubtedly hip-hop route' with a middle finger lightstick. They also made a keychain version, so fans can bring their f*cks everywhere they go. EPIK HIGH Seasons Greetings Of course, EPIK HIGH didn't just stop at making unserious lightsticks because they also made what appeared to be the funniest calendar any K-pop act can create. The trio took the family portrait theme and put their fun spin on it, dressing up as 'Squid Game' characters, farmers and more. SHINee Matchsticks Candles are common merchandise, but the match or lighter often gets left out of the set. Enter SHINee-brand matchsticks. These matchsticks themed to the group's official colour, pearl aqua green, were released as part of their 12th anniversary in 2020. Unfortunately, it seems more fans will save these matches instead of using them for their intended use. Idol Hangers Yes, these are hangers with idols' faces on them so you can pretend that your favourite member is wearing your clothes. Idol hangers originated from J-pop culture, but some K-pop groups and idols, including TWICE's Jeongyeon, have started producing them for their merchandise line. Fun fact: some J-pop male idols even go shirtless for their fans to give the hangers a better visual impression. TWICE Tzuyu Trash Can For TWICE's first world tour, each of the members designed a special merchandise and Tzuyu's happened to be a grey trash can. The design even featured the words 'trash can' to highlight its actual purpose. While the idea seemed odd at first, the product proved to be the most popular member-designed merchandise because it was the first to sell out. SEVENTEEN Seungkwan Scraping Massage Tool Beauty tools are all the rage, and since K-pop stars are at the forefront of the beauty scene, it's no surprise that one of them will release a beauty tool as merchandise. However, the idol in question was SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan, who created a scraping massage tool meant to reduce puffing and bloating in the face. SM Entertainment's Idol-themed Food Products A few years back, SM Entertainment had a cafe that operated on the first floor of the SM Entertainment Communication Centre building in Seoul. Sadly, it has ceased operations, but when it was still open, fans could purchase SM idol-themed food, including EXO instant noodles and Red Velvet fish sticks.
AsiaOne
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
High energy, strong vocals: J-pop boy band Be:First makes explosive debut in Singapore, Entertainment News
No fancy effects, no outfit changes, not even a backing track. But these didn't matter. The two-hour Who is Be:First? sold-out performance on July 5 was not just the Japanese boy band's debut concert in Singapore. It was also my first J-pop concert and just like the lyrics of their opening song Mainstream, they certainly showed me a new standard. The seven members of Be:First - Leo, Manato, Shunto, Junon, Ryuhei, Sota and Ryoki - are a balance of skilled vocalists and dancers, with a strong stage presence that amplified their performances. The high energy from the start didn't dim one bit, even though almost every song had a dance break to keep the beat up. Halfway through, they slowed things down a little with SOS, the track I looked forward to hearing the most. As expected, they didn't disappoint, and I would argue it sounded better in person with their clear vocals that weren't drowned out by instrumentals or backing tracks. What impressed me was how everyone sounded stable when singing and rapping despite the often-intense choreographies their songs had. Sota, for one, stood out with his confident, clean and sharp moves, but that's not to say the other members were lacking. They each knew how to keep the audience engaged with their stage charisma. "Singapore too hot," remarked the youngest Ryuhei, 19, at one point, after a loving Sota wiped his perspiration with a towel. The latter then asked the crowd if they were doing okay, and Shunto, 21, looked up at the second level of Capitol Theatre to ask in English: "Are you okay?" Sota, 24, joined him, making fanning gestures: "Are you okay? Not hot?" I was admittedly disappointed that there was no interpreter for their talking segments, but it was little moments like this one where I appreciated the sweet attempts to break the language barrier. We agree Ryuhei, Singapore is really hot 🥲#BF_WORLDTOUR2025 — AsiaOne (@asiaonecom) July 5, 2025 The members, who made their debut in 2022, talked about having local dishes like chilli crab and paper-wrapped chicken and visiting the Merlion Park before asking fans for recommendations on other places to go to. Their fandom Besty matched the group's energy by tenfold, be it through singing when asked to or giving enthusiastic cheers and answers to the boys' questions. Many suggestions on where to go were heard from the audience, with the popular ones being Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore and Night Safari. Light sticks unite the crowd in K-pop, but I noticed J-pop fans make up for that with their handheld banners and matching merchandise. I also personally loved that official fanchants aren't a thing for the latter, as fans often drown out the artistes' live singing at K-pop concerts. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself - the setlist had something for everyone: From catchy, dance-heavy tracks like Scream and Grit to spirited and lighthearted tunes like Sailing and Blissful. Who is Be:First? They might just be the new standard indeed. Watch for our E-Junkies video interview with Be:First coming out soon! [[nid:719897]] syarifahsn@ No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
